Cannes: Colin Firth, Emily Blunt Team For Dark Comedy

Focus Features International will be selling territories on an untitled dark comedy that will pair The King’s Speech star Colin Firth and Emily Blunt. The film will be directed by Dante Ariola from a script by Becky Johnston. The film’s financed by Vertebra Films and is produced by Cross Creek Pictures’ Brian Oliver, Johnston and Alisa Tager. UTA and CAA package it and will broker a domestic deal.

Ariola comes out of commercials and is making his directing debut. Firth plays a man who hates his job and is hated by his ex-wife and son. Feeling he missed his one shot at living the dream, he fakes his death and buys a new identity. Along the way he meets a woman (Blunt) who is also trying to leave her past behind. The pair break into empty homes and pose as the absent owners. The two find a kindship despite all the lying.